Athletes in Action

"' THE POLE V.\ULT-SU:\L\IARY (3) VERTICAL LIFT A'\D CAST-OFF FR0:\1 the face-downwards position, with the pole drawn close into the neck and held perfectly upright, the Yaulter raises his body, throughout its entire length, by means of a half-arm extension. \Yhen the body has been lifted so high that only the hands remain below the leYel of the bar, the feet \\·ill haYe descended from their high-point sufficiently for the whole body to be lying out in the air parallel to the ground . The vaulter then casts off with his left hand, assuming that he has taken-off from his left foot, but continues to push the body upwards with his right hand, which still grips the pole. This single-hand cast-off has the effect of turning the body in such a way that the chest will clear the bar, it also allows the athlete to push the pole away from the bar and,. finally, tips his feet downwards for a proper foot-landing in the sand-pit . The descent from bar-clearance should have the nature of a corkscrew turn, so that the vaulter will alight with his right side, or his back, towards the direction of his approach-run. - l..rw <.No